Adam Hall, a 15-year-old Boy Scout from Troop 711, decided that launching an Operation Christmas Child Relay Center would both help his community and earn him the rank of Eagle Scout.

The Hall family, who has contributed shoe box gifts to Operation Christmas Child for over 10 years, encouraged others in their community to get involved; however, the hour drive to the nearest drop off location proved to be a challenge for busy schedules.

"Having a relay center here in town would help people out a lot," said Hall. "That's why I decided that I would open one this year for my Eagle Scout project."

Reaching the Boy Scout's highest rank of Eagle is not an easy task. In addition to earning a number of merit badges and leadership abilities, the Eagle rank requires a minimum of 200 hours in leading the troop in a community service project.

As a relay center coordinator for Operation Christmas Child, Adam will help with the drop-off site and encourage families, churches and various community groups to pack shoe box gifts to share hope with suffering children. Some of these boxes will go to children who have never received a Christmas present.

Operation Christmas Child collects shoe box gifts to be hand delivered to millions of children suffering from war, terrorism, disease, natural disaster, famine, and poverty in more than 90 countries.

"It doesn't have to cost very much to do something so special," said Hall. "A simple box can be like gold to these children."